The 4 Best Zip File Extractors for Android

Unzip those files on your Android

Updated on June 15, 2021

Need to open a ZIP file on your Android device? Here's our list of the best mobile-friendly ZIP file extractor apps for Android.

The information below should apply no matter who made your Android phone (Samsung, Google, Huawei, Xiaomi, etc.).

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Best All-Around Zip File Extractor for Android: ZArchiver

What We Like

Extracts and compresses common ZIP formats.
Is root friendly.
The interface is easy to navigate.
Can compress files at different levels.

What We Don't Like

No way to remove ads.
Doesn't support all compressed formats.

ZArchiver has a feature-rich interface that won't overwhelm you and supports most zipped file types for both extraction and compression. It also has a built-in file manager, plus you can do some interface customizing to make ZArchiver your own.

While the program is ad-supported, the ads are unobtrusive, yet there's no way to remove them.

Download ZArchiver

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A Zip File Extractor for All File Formats: RAR

What We Like

Unpack a variety of ZIP file formats.
Zip files to an SD card.
Add passwords to ZIP files.
Zip archives, hidden files, and thumbnails.
Light or dark themes.

What We Don't Like

Short free trial period.
Ads are intrusive.

Originally designed for Linux-based systems, this ZIP file extractor comes with a colorful and easy-to-use interface. RAR can create compressed files in RAR, ZIP, and RAR 4.x formats, and it compresses in the background.

RAR can extract a wider variety of zipped files, including RAR, ZIP, GZ, BZ2, XZ, 7z, ISO, and ARK files. RAR includes a benchmark feature, which tests the speed of compression and decompression, and it can test archives.

RAR needs the Install unknown apps permission enabled for Android 8.0 Oreo. Go to Settings > Security > Unknown sources, then tap Allow installation of apps from unknown sources.

Download RAR

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Best Security Features: Winzip

What We Like

Paid version comes with encryption.
Comes with Clean Photo tool for photo housekeeping on a phone.
Paid version has a zip and email feature.
Also works on Chromebooks.

What We Don't Like

The free version has ads.
Ads get annoying when using advanced features.
No search options.

While WinZip's interface isn't as user-friendly as others, its design allows you to navigate your smartphone to compress or decompress files easily. While the free version has many advanced features available by watching ads, the small fee for the premium version is worth the investment. If you use WinZip on your PC, you can also access files via your Android.

WinZip's cloud features come in handy with the ability to send zipped files via email, Dropbox, or Google Drive. Still, if you don't want to store them in the cloud, WinZip can also store files on an SD card.

WinZip offers three levels of encryption for the security conscious, including the HIPAA standard of AES 265-bit encryption.

Download Winzip

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Zip Extractor With the Most Features: Solid Explorer File Manager

What We Like

The license extends to an unlimited number of devices.
Includes various color schemes and icon packs to personalize.
Comes with a handy user guide.
Packed with features.

What We Don't Like

Has difficulties opening some RAR files.

Solid Explorer File Manager is more of a file management app than a file extraction app. The fact it can extract compressed files is a nice bonus. You can see the file properties of zipped files, including the actual file sizes within the ZIP archive. You can also view checksums, a handy feature if you downloaded files and want to confirm they haven't been modified.

Download Solid Explorer File Manager

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